The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-19
SOME FAMOUS JEWELS.
Costly and Historical Gems in the Possession
of Mrs. Leland Stanford.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK, June 18-Among the many beau
tiful and costly jewels belonging to American
women there are few which have any special
history attached TO them, and very few are
heirlooms. The few families who have heir
looms of any value 10 this country are generally
people too poor in other ways to be able to make
adisplay of them. But there yet few which
have histories worth telling and among them is
q set of opals belonging to Mrs Leland Stanford,
which she bought of Bellezza, Genoese jewell
er, who was in Philadelphia at the Centennial
exhibition. These jewel were not publicly dis
played, as Bellezza had =, superstition about
them. and would never put them in any case
with other jewels account of their former
history.
They consisted of a pin and pair of earrings
of opals set round with brilliants. The opal in
the pin is over an inch long, and about two
thirds of an inch across. being oblong in form.
Those in the earrings were of the same shape.
about two-thirds the size Of that in the brooch.
They all had exactly the same milky blue lustre,
and down in the heart of each burned fiery red
spot with such baleful malevolens light that it
actually frightened the beholder. These
stones at an ordinary distance gave the
usual lustre of these jewels. and
it was only when looked at closely
that they had that peclliarity. They were
arranged SO that they cou. be worn three
pendants on $ chain or band Of velvet As well as
in their ordinary form. The brilliants around
them were about the size of small peas on the
brooch and large pinneads OF the earrings.
They were shown Mrs. Stanford more as curl
osities than anything else, but she was instantly
struck with their beauty and popularity. and
bought them. paying 81, 900 for them, and laugh
ing at the thought of any superstition regard
ing opals although she heard the story of these
foo% hat Nae Ford af fhasa
opals was the ex-Empress Eugene. They had
been sent to her as a present by noble Spanish
family whom she had greatly aided In time OF
their misfortunes. They had been obliged to
pawn these jewels, with many others. which the
Empress's generosity had enabled thsm to save.
and she received them, but never liked to wear
them, and 1t is said she never did wear them but
once During the tine that these jewels were
in the family of this Spanish nobleman every
misfortune that could follow one seemed to have
pursued them, until they were almost reduced
to beggary and several of their family had died.
The story is that the Spanish nob.eman bought
them of widowed friend. chose bereavement
had DE en- the result of a train of miseries almost
unheard Of IL her youth this lady had been
lady of honor to the Empress of Austria, and
jewels were given to her by the Empress. who
had just bought them of the last member of a
noble old Hungarian family, whowas reducedto
this extremity. The jewels had been q bridal
gift from her husband, and she had kept them
until hunger and restitution forced her to sell
them. 1t was through Baron Janus Won Kan
thus that the Empress OF Austria hear0 OF the
sad case and finally bought the jewels. Where
they came from before this / do not know.
When the ex Empress had to fly from Paris
these Jewels with few others, were hurriedly
gathered BY her faithful friends and attendants
and / saw and admired them at Chislehurst |
where, owing to some certain circumstances, l |
passed two days and q night, but l never ex- |
pected to see them again.
Bellezza the jeweler, is an Italian and enjoys |
a reputation very enviable among jewelers. of |
honesty, and he had often HAD dealings with the |
Empress while in the zenith of her power, and |
af ter her sorrow she turned to him as q medium |
to dispose of much of her jew elry in quiet |
which could not easily have been done |
either in London or Paris. So Mile De Larmi- |
nat and the Countess Clery made several visits |
to Bellezza. taking him tho jewels for sale, and |
be managed it with caution and usually good re- |
suits. But no one would buy this set of jewels.
and so they were brought here in hopes of sell |
ing them to some one who had no superstition |
on the subject. and Mrs Stanford bought them. |
duence of the balsful jewels had fallen upon her |
slso, as she has lost her only child since then.
If she has them still she should remember that |
their wicked sorcery never ceases until the owner
Is reduced 60 poverty
At the same time of the purchase of this set of |
Jewels Mrs Stanford bought of the Same jeweler |
magnificent necklace of diamonds and rubies, |
FOR which she paid nearly SAG, 600, and pin and |
rings made Of pink pearls, set with brilliants,
representing moss rosebuds She gave about |
3, 900 for this SGT, which was intended for |
present to some relative.
The necklace had just one riviere Of large, pure |
white stones, and then the rubies, which were
hung on tiny chains, and below this another row |
IT diamonds, NOT quite so large as the upper row,
with the exception of the three middle ones.
The largest diamonds were about half an inch in /
diameter and the rubies were almost as large,
Ind all were of the most perfect purity.
Mrs. Stanford has many other Jewels but none |
liner. In the necklace are 135 stones. OF which
orty four are rubies. OLIVE HARPER.